Introduction
Discussing the use of classical mechanics and Newton’s laws of motion in everyday life, we must first discuss the creator of these laws and the person who is credited with introducing these to our attention. In 1867, Sir Isaac Newton suggested three principles that define how force and motion interact with one another. The influence of force on the state of motion of an object is explained by Newton’s first law of motion. The law of inertia is another name for Newton’s first law. In this blog on education, we’ll talk about some everyday experiences of Newton’s first law of motion.
The law can be stated as follows:
“An object in rest or uniform motion in a straight will continue to be in rest or uniform motion unless and until acted upon by an external force” Newton’s first law of motion
This implies that motion cannot change or reduce without the presence of an unbalanced force. If nothing comes to mind, you will never go anywhere. If you’re heading in one direction, you’ll keep going in that path endlessly unless something comes to mind. In other words, if the resultant force is zero, all objects have a strong desire to maintain their original motion. A change in speed, direction, or state of motion requires the application of an external force. Inertia is the resistance to some external force.
Newton’s first law of motion is illustrated in the following cases:
Let’s take a look at each of the examples and determine if they follow Newton’s first law of motion.
Travelers swinging in a turning bus
We could feel ourselves going in the other direction whenever the bus turned rapidly. This is in compliance with Newton’s first law, which states that unless subjected to an external force, a body moving in a straight line will continue to move in that direction. As a result, your body is attempting to move in the original direction, while the bus’s force is pulling you in the opposite way. This is known as directional inertia.
In space, an astronaut is constantly floating
There is no gravitational force in space. Since there is no external factor to stop an object in motion, it will continue to move. Because of this, astronauts can fly, which is in agreement with Newton’s first law.
Abrupt use of brakes in a car
When a car driver suddenly uses the brakes, we tend to accelerate. The brakes bring the car to a halt. However, inertia keeps us moving. As a result, seat belts are critical for driving safety. By watching this animation, you will gain a better understanding.
A runner who now has to stop after finishing the race
A race in which participants run over great distances does not instantly come to a halt when they near the finish line. They keep running for a small distance in order to maintain motion inertia. Because their bodies were in motion, it was extremely difficult to bring them to a complete stop in a short period of time.
Even when peddling is stopped, a bicycle continues to move
Only through pedaling with the physical force of our legs can a cycle run. When we stop pedaling while in motion, however, the cycle continues to travel on its own with no external assistance. According to Newton’s first law, which states that a body in motion continues to move unless it is stopped by an external force, this is an illustration of inertia of motion. Friction is the external force at work here, and it eventually stops the cycle from moving.
A cricket ball changing direction
A bat hits a ball in a game of cricket. The bat transfers the muscle force to the ball, which affects the ball’s direction and speed of motion.
Going for a swim
People may float in water for hours without movement. However, in order to push forward, we must use muscular effort from our hands and legs to move the water behind.
Planetary rotation
Humans do not experience much of a gravitational pull in space. The sun, on the other hand, exerts a gravitational influence on bigger objects like planets. The solar system is held in place by this force.
Rockets fleeing the gravitational pull of the Planet
In order to reach deep space, rockets must overcome the earth’s gravitational influence. Because there is no force that acts on the rockets in space, they can move freely. However, in order to escape the gravitational attraction of the Earth, they travel at an extremely high speed known as the escape velocity.
Quakes
Whenever an earthquake strikes, everything is flung into motion, including large skyscrapers. This is a good example of motion inertia. Because of Newton’s first law, the objects are at rest and will try to stay that way. However, when the Earth underneath is jolted into action by tectonic plate collisions, the objects try to stay still and fall.
To Conclude Everyday Experiences of Newton’s First Law of Motion
To understand the concept of newton’s first law of motion, we need to look at it from a different perspective. These everyday experiences are some of the best examples that help us relate and identify with the concepts easily. There are many ways to explain Newton’s first law of motion. It’s important for us to understand the concept well so that we can apply it in our everyday lives. While it is often a struggle for us to understand the way things work at first, with practice and understanding, everyday experiences help us relate better and learn the laws of physics and allow us to enjoy them more.
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Originally published at https://blogs.dynamind.co on February 23, 2022.
